The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has detained former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, after he failed to meet the bail conditions given to him during an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering and other offences.
A senior EFCC source, who confirmed the development late Tuesday to the News Agency of Nigeria, said the former minister remained in custody as of 10.00 p.m. because he had not fulfilled the bail requirements.
The source said, “We have detained him over terrorism financing and the whereabouts of Abacha loot recovered from Switzerland and the Island of Jersey in the UK. He would remain in custody until he fulfils the requirements.”
The official added that Malami was arrested for not meeting his bail terms and is expected to keep appearing before investigators through December.
According to the source, “Presently, we are investigating him for 18 different offences. Some of them are money laundering, abuse of office and terrorism financing. We cannot put a figure to the amount involved now because we keep uncovering some of the deals as we investigate.”
The EFCC is also probing suspicious bank accounts linked to the former minister and other alleged financial irregularities during his time in office.
Malami, however, insisted that all allegations against him were untrue.
He said, “For the avoidance of doubt, my public record in office stands in direct contradiction to any insinuation of complicity in terrorism financing. During my tenure as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, I worked with other arms of government and relevant institutions to strengthen, not weaken, Nigeria’s legal and institutional framework against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.”
The EFCC investigation continues as the commission deepens its probe into recovered Abacha funds and related transactions.
